Removable Hard Disk with Display Information

1. A display system for a removable data storage device (RDSD), comprising: a storage medium having a plurality of device status files stored thereon; a storage information module (SIM) operable to access said device status files and to generate predetermined device status signals therefrom; a display controller operable to receive said device status signals and to generate display control signals therefrom; and a display operable to use said display control signals to display information corresponding to predetermined status parameters of said storage medium; wherein said RDSD is operable to be used in a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) system coupled to an information handling system and said storage medium, said SIM, said display controller, and said display are contained in a removable housing comprising an input/output interface operable to control the transfer of data between said RAID system, said storage medium and said information handling system.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said displayed information comprises static information corresponding to predetermined status parameters of said storage medium.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said displayed information comprises dynamic information corresponding to predetermined status parameters of said storage medium.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said display is powered by said information handling system and is operable to communicate said predetermined information when connected to said information handling system.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said display is powered by a battery and is operable to persistently communicate said predetermined information when disconnected from said information handling system.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein said persistently communicated information comprises the current status of said predetermined information when said storage device was last powered by said information handling system.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said display controller and said display are operable to modify the displayed information in response to user input data.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein said display comprises mechanical contact switches operable to receive said user input data.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein said display comprises a touch-sensitive screen operable to receive said user input.

10. A method of displaying information regarding the status of a removable data storage device (RDSD), comprising: storing a plurality of device status files on a storage medium; using a storage information module (SIM) to access said device status files and to generate predetermined device status signals therefrom; using said device status signals to generate display control signals; and using said display control signals to display information corresponding to predetermined status parameters of said storage medium; wherein said RDSD is operable to be used in a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) system coupled to an information handling system and said storage medium, said SIM, said display controller, and said display are contained in a removable housing comprising an input/output interface operable to control the transfer of data between said RAID system, said storage medium and said information handling system.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said displayed information comprises static information corresponding to predetermined status parameters of said storage medium.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein said displayed information comprises dynamic information corresponding to predetermined status parameters of said storage medium.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein said display is powered by said information handling system and is operable to communicate said predetermined information when connected to said information handling system.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein said display is powered by a battery and is operable to persistently communicate said predetermined information when disconnected from said information handling system.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said persistently communicated information comprises the current status of said predetermined information when said storage device was last powered by said information handling system.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein said display controller and said display are operable to modify the displayed information in response to user input data.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said display comprises mechanical contact switches operable to receive said user input data.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein said display comprises a touch-sensitive screen operable to receive said user input.